Machine for smoothing chains



Feb. 27, 1923. 1,446,923..

' e. e. NAUGLE. q

' MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING CHAINS.

FILED APRJG, 192l- 3 SHEETS-SHEET l- ATTORN Y Feb. 27, 1923.

(a. (a. NAUGLE.

MACHINE FOR smoomma CHAINS.

3 SHEET -SHEET 2.

FILED AFR-26,1921.

INVENTOR G. G. NAUGLE. MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING CHAINS.

' men me. 1921'. a HEET'HEET Feb.- .27, 1923. 1,446,923;

Patented Feb. 27, 1923, It

ernaanus o. NAUGLE, or YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR pro AivIEnIoANcHAIn COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF N'EVJ YORK.

MACHINE FOR SMOOTHING- CHAINS.

Application filed April 26,

To all who m it m (113 concern Be it known that l, GInAnnus G. NAUGLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVla-chines for Smoothing Chain, of which the following, taken in connection with the accornpanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for reducing or smoothing down projections, pro.- tuberances and rough areas on the surfaces or chain links, more particularly the fins or burs which are frequently left as the result of the application of electric welding processes to the manufacture ot chain. In the manufacture of electric welded chain, it is customary to swage the joint which results from the action of the current, and this swaging process is often carriedout in such manner as to leave aroughness of surface and frequently fins which are "due to imperfect work, and especially to the exuding or the molten or plastic metal from between the welded ends. l/Vhile the fins mentioned are perhaps the most objectionable of the characteristics which I purpose to eliminate, nevcrtheless,iit willbe obvious that my machine is equally adaptable for the removal or reduction of rough areas or projections of any character. U 1 I Functionally considered, the "machine operates by causing the chain to be drawn through a plurality of passes each preferably i'ormed by cooperating rolls of appropriate shape, and means are provided.

for maintaining the chain at a considerable degree oi tension while. this operation is going on, in order that there may be no kinking or uneven motion of the chain through the passes; and means are also preterably provided tor relieving the tension, and if desired, stopping the machine in case the tension exceeds a predetermined quarn tity. I I One object of my invention is theocon struction of a machine for thea-bove described purposes which will operate with rapidity and facility on chain o'tthe larger sizes, say one-fourth inch stock and over. It will nevertheless be obvious that the mawith .respect. to the plane of thep 'e 1921. Serial No. 464,711.

chine may be easily adapted to operate on chain of any size, although asother efiective means are commonly used for smoothing chain .ofthe smallerwsizes, l have thought it best to emphasize the special utility of my machine for operating in chain of the larger sizes.

Another object is the constri'iction of a .7

machine for the above described purpose thatwill involve a continuous motion ota length of chain as distinguished from-the several well known methods wherein the chain is stopped at intervalsyof onelink or alternate links for the operation ofreduclng the bur or fin.

Another object 1s the construction of a machine of the character above describedv and provided with passes through which the chain is drawn, in which means'are provided for malntalnlng the-chain under .sufiicient tension to prevent its kinking and to i facilitate an even travel through Ithe passes.

Another object is to provide a machine for the above described purposeswhereby the fins or other projections onwelded chain maybe rolled down as distinguished, from other methods, such as swaging, cutting, or abrading. I I

Another object is to, providea machine for the above described purpose'whereby the operations -mentio-ned may be carried on while the chain is at normal tempe-rature.

Another object isthe construction ota machine, for the purpose described and, in-' volving the use oi passes throughwhich the chain is drawn undertension, 1n-wh1ch-provislon is made for prewenting the tens on from exceeding a certain quantity and also, I

if desired, stopping the machine in case (the tension exceeds the said quantity.

Another object is the' construction machine o-fthe character described i whi h powerful and rapida, o '95 7 shall be incorporated a feeding mechanism.

While I have shown described machine in a form adapted for operating; on the well known type vof chainvcompo sed of open elongated links I having substantially parallel sidestrands, and i i-which the plane of each link is at an angle of eding upon iiiispection'of the drawings and reading of this description, that with suitable changes that can be made by any person ordinarilyskilled 1n the art, the machine maybe readily adapted for use 1n 'VOHHQC tionjwith chain of other types.

" Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a. side elevation of the chine partly in longitudinal section and "with the frame partly broken away in order to clearly show the feeding mechanisn.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Figure is a sectional viewer-i the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail viev. of the tcnsioning mechanism.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure d. i i

In the drawings which show an illuatrw tive embodiment of my invention, the operating parts are shown supported by a frame or table 1. The passes, of which two are shown, are'each formeo of a pair oppos-itely disposed cooperating rolls, one pair of rolls beingmounted to rotate in a vertical plane and the other pain ina horizontal plane, this arrangement being an adaptation of'the invention to operation in connection with the particular'type of chain above described and which is indicated in the drawings by the-letter A. The horizontal rolls are indicated by the numerals .2 and 2, and the upper roll 2 is mounted in bearings 3, 8 which are carried bythe slide 4. The lower roll 2' is mounted in the bearings 5, '5 which in turn are mounted on the slide 6, the slides 4 and 6 being mounted in-the slideway "5',

whereby they may be moved'up or down as a unit as occasion requires to ad ust the pass 8 to various positions vertically. its

the links of commercialchain, particularly of the larger sizes, ordinarily Vary appreciably from one another, in their dimen-' sions, it is not ordinarily desirable that the distance between the rolls should be invariable from link to link; On the contrary. T

resiliency being brought about by the expansion springs 10, 10, which'surro'und the shanks of the bolts. ln case it is desired to fix a'limit of approach of the slides and "consequently the rolls toward each other, the collars 11, on the bolts 9, 9 may be interposed between the bearings.

To adjust the pass vertically, the entire combination of slides, rolls, tensioning bolts andmountings may be moved up and down in the slideway 7 by means of the set screw l slideways 26, 26.

12 threaded in'the projecting bracket 12, and abutting against the slide 6 as shown.

The second set of rolls may be constructed substantially like the-first, except for such changes as are necessary to adapt them for rotation and adjustment in a. horizontal. plane. These rolls, which are indicated by the numerals 13 and 13, may be mounted in bearings 1 carried by separate slides 15, 15, which operate in the horizontal. slidewa-y 16, the entire construction thus far described being essentially similar to the construction of the vertical rolls and supporting mechanism. Similarly as in the case of the vertical rolls and their supporting mechanism these rolls may be maintained under tension. by means of the bolts 17, 17 which unite the slides and cause them to approach each other under iigh-tension by means of the s1 rings l8, 18 (of which one only is shown) a limit of approach being fixed if desired by the collars 20, 20 (of which one only is shown) mounted on the boltsl'T, 1'? between the roller bearings. The entire combination last described may be adjusted horizontally by means of the opposing set screws 21, 21 threaded through end plates 22,. on the slideway and abutting against the slides 15, 15.

It is desirable that the motion: of the chain through the passes be as even as possible and I therefore prefer to make the first described pass adjustable lol'igitudinally of the machine. This may be done by forming the,

1 by means of the slots 23" and the clamp screws 23. The value of adjustab-ility of the pass longitudinally of the machine lies in the fact that the machine may thus be made more-easily to operateon chains of varying pitch. For the sake of evenness of motion of the chain through the passes it is desirablethat as nearly as possible one or the other of the passes should be'working at all times. Therefore with the construction above described, the distance between the passes can be so regulated as desired that while one pass is operating on a link the other is idling and vice versa.

A suitable means are provided for feeding the chain which consists of a pawl23 suitably formed to grab the chain as shown, and mechanism for causing'it to reciprocate longitudinally of, the chain. The pai'vl may be carried by a. bracket 24, mounted on the carriage 25, which is adapted for travel in An especially powerful mechanism for causing the reciprocating motion of the pawl may consist of a lever 27, pivoted at 28 to a bracket 29 depending from the'carriage, and also at 30' to a link 31 which, in turn, is pivoted at 32 to the frame. The lever 27 is provided with a slot 33 which cooperates with a slide block 34: eccentrically pivoted on the gear35. The gear 35 is rotatably mounted on the frame and is caused to rotate by any suitable means such as pinion 36, carried by the shaft The shaft 37 carries a conventional clutch arrangement consisting of the loose pulley 38 and the spline clutch member 39, and power may be transmitted to the machine through the pulley 38 from any suitable source.

To maintain the chain under a suitable degree of tension and to limit the size of the links and the dimensions of the burs or other projections and rough areas which will be permitted to reach the guides hereinafter described, and thence the passes, and also to prevent the chain from reaching the guides in kinked condition, I provide the block 40 having the groove 41 andalso the block as having the groove 43, the blocks being so positioned and spaced. with-respect to each other as to form a cruciform die through which the chain may be drawn without the possibility of twisting. The block; is supported by the bolts or standards 42-4.-2 on which it is capable of sliding to a small extent in a vertical direction, being normally pressed against the chain A and by gravity. A crosshead 42 is supported by the standards and a cam lever L2 pivoted on the stud 42 projecting from the block 42 and through-the crosshead may be used to raise the block from the chain when desired. A stated, the vertical motion of the block 42 is limited. the limit being created by the collars 42". f? surrounding the bolts or standards 4%, 42*. By thus limiting the upward motion of the block 42 a limit is established t'o'the size of the horizontal links and to the dimensions of projections and burs on horizontal links which will pass through the cruciform die.

A guide for preventing the chain from twisting and consisting of t-wo pairs-of blocks as. all, and li, 44" respectively positioned one pair above the other and.

with the parts of each pair slightly separated to form the cruciform guide 6 15 may be provided, this guide serving not to create tension butto insure suitable alignment of the chain as it entersthe first pass, and to perform this function is preferably placed in close proximity to the pass. Also if desired, another guide for keeping the chain in alignment as it approaches the pass v formed by the vertical rolls may consist of the bifurcated plate 46 fastened to a portion 46 of the frame and formed into a horizontal slot d6". The vertical links enter the slot and the horizontal links travel on the surface and as this guide leads nearly to the pass, the chain is thus guided accurately into it.

On account of possible irregularities in the dimensions of various links, irregularities of such proportions as would cause the that, upon a predetermined tension being exceeded, the tensioning device will yield. and if desired, cause the power to be shut off or the chain feeding mechanism otherwise stopped. This result may be accomplished by mountingthe block 40 on a slideway 4L7 and yieldingly clamping it on the slideway.

The clamping may be accomplished by means ofthe bolts 4L9, 49 and the plate. 4:8, the bolts passing through the plate and being threaded in the block as shown, whereby a frictional engagement between the tensioning device and the slideway is established. To make this frictional engagement yieldable, spring washers 50, 50 maybe e9, 49 and the plate 48. To oppose the tension between the block 40 and the phases so that the frictional engagement may be released and the tensioning device he moved freely by hand along the slideway 47,, it is desirable to incorporate the set screw 51 interposed between the heads of the bolts threaded in the plate 48 andabutting against I r the tension of the chain at any time for any reason exceeds the measure of frictional. en-

gagement between the "tensioning mechanism and the slideway 4:7,the entire tensionlng device will bedrawn along the slideway;

l: prefer, however, that any such travel of the tensioning device as is last described should at the same time cause the-power to be shut off or the'motion of the mechanism any such possible travel to operate the clutch lever. This may be accomplished by any suitable means, but in my particular: form the block e0. Itwill thus be seen that'if otherwise stopped. I therefore make use of 1 illustrated, I show 'a bolt -52 projecting downwardly from the plate l8 and provided with an eye through which the rod 53 may slidingly pass. Therod 53is provided with a'shoulder as shown which limits the extent to which it may pass through theeye of the bolt, and is also pivotally connected at 5i with one arm 55 of'a bell crank lever pivotedto theframe of the machineat 56. The

other arm ofth'e bell cranklever is pivot- Q ally connected at 57 with the link 58 which in turn ispivotally connected to the clutch lever 59 at-60. The clutch shown is of a 'well known. conventional type and it ispobvious that as the block 40 andplate 48 travel along the guide rail 47 and the eye of the .bolt strikes the'shoulder 53 the clutch will. be thrown out and the machine will stop. On the other hand, the construction of the rod 53 offers no obstruction to the free plates 62 retained by screws 63 for adjust-' ment to accommodate various thicknesses of material used in making chain.

170 obviate any possibility of the chain being drawn, backwardly on the return in vement of the carriage, I provide a pawl (13 i canled by the support 65 which in turn is mounted on the bracket 66 projecting from the frame. The'ch-ain may, if desiret, run over a loose grooved pulley ('37 as it is fed, thus insuring an even delivery.

The operation of the machine is follows: The partsheing stationary and the l' lock 42 being raised to its upward limit by means of the cam lever 12, the chain to be smoothed is passedthrough the tension ing device, and thence through the guides and passes, whence it drawn to cause it to engage with the pawl 23. If necessary, the tension of the pass rolls may be temporarily relieved to facilitate the drawing of the chain therethrough by relieving spring tension of springs and 18. The power is then connected by operating the hand lever in the usual manner, whereupon the reciprocatory motion of the pawl 23 is begun and continued, and as the chain is thereby drawn through the passes projections, fins and rough areas of the character above described are smoothed down. lVhile the chain is thus being drawn through the passes the frictional engagement of the blocker-0 with the slideway 47 is maintained at a suti'icient quantity to resist the normal tension ot' the chain. On the other hand, the extent of-this frictional engagement is limited to such an extent that in-case a link exceeding given dimensions or having pro ections or fins exceeding given dimensions attempts to pass through the tensioning device, the frictional engagement of the latter with the slideway 'will give way and the tensioning device will be drawn along theslideway. As the tensioning device is drawn along the slideway the bolt 52 strikes the shoulder 53 and thence, through the bell crank lever above described and the link 58, operates the clutch to shut ofi the power. thus stopping the feeding mechanism. Thereupo-n the block 42 may be again raised and the pawl may be withdrawn from engagement and the chain withdrawn to a sufficient distance to make it possi'ble'to easily remove or repair the objectionable link or otherwise remedy the difficulty.

While I have illustrated and described but a single embodiment of the invention, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art. that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Havin g thus described my invention, what I claim is: I

1. In a machine for smoothing chain, a chain tensioning device and means for retaining said device in fixed position until the tension thereon exceeds a predetermined quantity.

2. In a machine for smoothing chain, a tensioning device, a slideway on which said device is mounted, and yieldable clamping meanstor retaining said device in frictional engagement with said slideway.

3. In a machine for smoothing chain, a tensioning device, a slideway on which said device is mounted, and clamping means for retaining said device in frictional engagement with said slideway.

Lin a machine for smoothing chain, a tensioning device adapted to place a chain under substantially uniform tension, said device including two relatively movable members adapted to yieldingly close on said iirhain, said device also having yieldable frictional engagement with a slideway, and means for regulating the extent of said frictional engagement.

5. In a machine for smoothing chain, a roll pass, means for drawing a chain through said pass, a tensioning device located in advance of said pass, means adapted to permit the said tensioning device to move in the direction of said tension when the said tension exceeds a predetrmined' quanmy. p

6. In a machine for smoothing chain, anormally stationary chain tensioningvdevice, and means adapted to permit said device to move from its position in the direction or": tension exerted on a chain subjected to the action of said'tensioning device when the said tension exceeds a predetermined quantity.

7. In a machine 't'or smoothing chain, a

tensioning device having};frictional engage' ment with a slideway whereby the device is adapted to be drawn along said slideway when the tensionexerted on a chain passing through said tensioning device exceeds a predetermined quantity.

8. In a machine for smoothing chain, a

chain tensioning device, means for retaining said device in fined position until the tension thereon exceeds a predetermined quantity, feeding mechanism for said chain, means for connectmgand dlsconnecting power for vsaid feeding mechanism and connections between said tensioning device andlsaid last mentioned means. whereby the said last mentioned means are operated to disconnect the said power when the said tensioiiing device is caused to move from its fixed position in the direction of said tension.

9. In a machine for smoothing chain, atensionlng device, a slideway on which said device is mounted, yieldable clamping means for retaining said device in frictional engagement with said slideway, a chain feeding mechanism, a clutch for connecting or disconnecting po ver for said'feeding mechanism and lever connections between said tensioning device and said clutch said lever connections being adapted to transmit to said clutch, motion on said tensioning device on said slideway.

l0. Ina machine for smoothing chain a tensioning device, a slideway on which said device is mounted, lamping means for retaining said device in frictional engagement with said slideway, a chain feeding mechanism, a source of power and means operated by said tensioning device whenthe tension thereon overcomes said frictional engagement for disconnecting the said source of power.

11. In a machine'for smoothing chain, a tensioning device adapted to place a chain under substantially uniform ftension, said nism, source of power for operating said means and connections between said tensioning device and said source of power for disconnecting the said source'of power when the said tensioning device is caused to move v on said slideway in the direction of the said tension. h i

12. In a'inachii'ie for smoothing chain, a roll passi means for drawing a chain-through said pass, a tensioning device located in advance of said pass, means adapted to permit the said 'tensioning device to move in the direction of said tension on y when the said tension exceeds a predetermined quantity, and means adapted to be operated by motion of said tensioning device in the line of I tension to disconnect said machine from a source of power.

13, In a machine for smoothing chain, a normally stationary chain. tensioning device, means adapted to permit said device to move from its position in the direction of tension exerted on a chain subjected to the action of said tensioning device when said tension exceeds a predetermined quantity, a chain feeding mechanism, power transmitting means for said chain feeding mechanism,

and connections between said tensioning device and said power transmitting means for disconnecting the power from said'chain feeding means when the .tensioning device is caused to move from its normally stationary position in the, direction of the tension exerted thereon: i

let. In a machine for sinoothingchain, a tensioning device having frictional engagement with a slideway, whereby the device'is adapted to be drawn along said slideway when the tension exerted on a chain passing through said tensioning device exceeds predetermined quantity, achain feeding mechanism and connections between said tensioning device and said chain feeding mechanism, said connections beingadapted to cause the said chain feeding mechanism to stop when the said tensiening device moves on said slideway in the direction of the tension exerted thereon. I

15. In a machine for smoothin chain a plurality of roll passes v chain guides for said roll passes, means for drawing chain through said guides and passes, said means consisting of acarriage adapted to slide .in alignment with said passes and carryinga pawl adapted'to engage said chain, a tensioning device adapted for yieldable engagement with said chain and located in ad- Vance of said guides and passes, said tensioning device including a cruciform die adapted to limit to predetermined dimensions t'he size of a link which may pass therethrough and also thesize of a pro ecting or protuberance on a link which may pass therethrough, said tensioniiig device having yieldable, frictional engagement with a slideway vwhereby it is; adapted to be drawn in the direction of tension exerted thereon when the said tension exceeds a predetermined amount. a.

16. In a machine for smoothing'chain, a

- plurality of roll passes, chain guidesfor'said j roll passes, means for drawing a chain through said guldes and passes, said meansconsisting of a carriage adapted to'slide in alignment with said passes and carrying a pawl adapted to engage'said chain, a tensioning device adaptedfor yieldable engage ment with said chain and located in advance of said guides and passes, said tensioning device including a cruciform die adapted to limit to predetermined dimensions the size of a link which may pass therethrough and also the size of a projection or protuberance on a link which may pass therethrough, said. tensioning. device having yieldable frictional engagement witha slideway, whereby it is adapted to be drawn in the direction of tension exerted thereon when the said tension exceeds a predetermined amount, a source of power for said machine, a clutch for throwing the said power on and oif,-lever connections between g eas es said tensioning device and said clutch adapted to operate the said clutch to throw the said power oil when the said tens-inning device is caused to move in the direction or the tension exerted thereon.

17. In a machine for smoothing chain, a plurality of roll passes, each of said passes being formed by a pair of cooperating rolls, said rolls being yieldably mounted, guides for guiding a chain into said rolls and means for drawing the said chain through said rolls, said means consisting of a yieldably' mounted carriage carrying a pawl adaptec to engage said chain when the said carriage is moving away from said passes, and means for impartin reciprocatory motion to said end of said carriage and at the other end to one end of a link which in turn is pivotally connectedto a fixed. portion'of the machine, and a crank adapted to operate in a slot in said lever intermediate its ends.

19. in a machine for smoothing chain, a plurality of passes, each of which is formed by a pair of cooperating yieldably mounted rolls, a guide positioned in advance of one of said rolls the said guide consisting of a cruciioi'in die, mechanism for subjecting to tension a chain drawn through said passes and means for drawing a chain through said mechanism and said passes consisting of a pawl. mounted on a 'slidahly mounted carriage and adapted to engage said'chain when the said carriage is moving away iromjsaid' passes, and means for imparting reciprocatory motion to said carriage. I

20. A machine for smoothing chain comprising a plurality of passes disposed in sequence, each of said passes consisting of a pair of cooperating rolls, the members of each pair being mounted to slide toward and away from each other, resilient means for forcing the rolls of each pair toward one another, means for positively limiting the approach oi the rolls of each pair toward one another, means for drawing a chainthrough said passessaid means including a sliding carriage carrying a pawl adapted to engage said chain, means for imparting reciprocatory motion to said carriage insubstantial alignment with saidpasses, chain guides for said passes, chain tensioning means located. in advance of said passes and said guides, said means comprising a pair of complementary die blocks one ofwhich is yieldably forced toward the other whereby a chain passing through the die is yieldably and frictionally gripped, a slideway on which the said tensioning device is yieldably and slidably mounted so that the said die is adapted .to travel substantially in alinement with said passes, clamping means for regulating the measure of frictional, engagement of said device with said slideway whereby the same is adapted to remain stationary on said slideway until a predeterinlned tension on a chain passing through said tensioning device is exceeded, a power transmission clutch adapted to be thrown into and out of engagement at will, and lever connections between said tensioning device and said clutch adapted to transmit to saidclutch any motion of said tensioning device along said slideway whereby the said clutch may be thrown out of engagement when such travel takes place. c l a In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification. I GIRARDUS G. NAUGLE. 

